With reference to Cllr Mrs Stribley’s letter, as she will know well, circumstances change over time and hence decisions taken in the distant past often have to be reconsidered in the current context.

The habitats regulations have existed for some time but implementation of these has increased in significance in recent times.

The crunch question for Poole planners and the committee in the determination of the Talbot Village application was whether the detailed proposal will not harm the adjacent sites of scientific special interest.

The committee made a judgement that it will not but this is disputed by Natural England.

I await with interest to see whether this application will be called in by central government.

If not, will there be other exceptions to the 400 metre rule allowed by planning committees in Dorset?

Annette Brooke MP, House of Commons